Coin-controlled mechanism.



.No. 782,186. PATENTED FEB 7, 1905. M. O. ANTHONY.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. 1904.

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WITNESSES:

PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. M. O. ANTHONY.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. 1904.

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' WZM NITED STATES Patented February '7, 1905.

ARK O. ANTHONY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF l OUR-FlFlHS TO BENJAMIN F. OLAGGETT, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,186, dated February 7, 1905.

Original application filed November 27,1903, Serial No. 182,872. Divided and this application filed April 25, 1904. Serial No. 204,681.

To It whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MARK O. ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (loin-Controlled Mechanisn1,of which the following is a specification.

This in vention appertains to certain new and useful improvements in coin-controlled mechanism for vending-machines; and the present application is in the nature of a division of my application for improvements in vendingmachines, filed November 2'7, 1903, Serial No. $2,872.

The pending application, above referred to, has relation to a vending-machine as an entirety that is to say, to a coin-actuated goods containing and delivering apparatus irrespective of the specific coin-controlled mechanism for permitting the operation of said apparatus, although in such pending case I have shown and described the main and essential features of the present invention.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to devise a coin-actuated mechanism adapted to be used in connection with a goods containing and vending machine and so correlated with the latter that the operation of the vending portion of the entire apparatus will be dependent upon the depositing of a genuine coin of proper denomination in the coinreceiving slot.

A further object is the provision of means for detecting and ejectingspurious or counterfeit coins, blanks, washers, and like articles which may be inserted in the machine for the purpose of operating the same, the construction of my mechanism being such that not only will the machine fail to operate when such articles as above enumerated are deposited therein, butthe latter will be conveyed to and dropped in a receptacle provided for their reception.

1 have also in contemplation the provision of mechanism whereby when the proper coin has been inserted in the machine and the actuation of the operating-lever has been commenced it will be necessary to throw said lever the entire length of its stroke, this arrangement preventing persons obtaining more than one delivery of goods for a single coin.

Finally. I have in view so constructing my mechanism that the essential and desired features of simplicity, durability, and positiveness in operation will be obtained.

\Vith the above-recited objects and others of a similar nature in contemplation my invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as is described in this specification, delineated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coin-carrying mechanism embodying my improvements. Fig. is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of my coin-carrier and. its operating parts, a portion of the coin chute or slot being broken away, while the path of movement of the coin-carrier and its connected operating parts is shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the coincarrying member. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the coin-carrier and its platform. Fig. 5 is a view showing a portion of the carrier in section and a locking tooth or dog engaging the same. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the members of the carrier.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the letter A is designed to indicate a conventional illustration of the front wall of a casing of a goods containing and vending machine, to the inner face of which is rigidly secured a shelf 5, having mounted thereon a platform 6, provided with a relatively wide slot or way 7, extending the entire length of the platform and designed to form a guideway for the coin-carrier proper, which latter is indicated as a whole by the letter B.

As will be seen by referring to Fig. the coin-carrier comprises,essentially,a member 8 and the block 9, which latter is designed to move in the longitudinal vertical slot 10 formed in the member 8, the enlarged projecting end 11 of the block 9 being designed to bear against a coin lying in the slot 10 and in conjunction with the abutment 12 of the member 8 to grasp such coin and retain the same against movement during the travel of the carrier. The reduced extended portion 13 of the member 8 has rigidly secured at its outer end a laterally-extending bar 14, movably secured to the portion 15 of the block 9 through the medium of the screw 16, so that when the initial movement is imparted to the member 8 it will slide relative to the block 9 until the lateral strip 14 abuts against the head 17 of the pin or screw 16, and the block 9 will then be moved simultaneously with the member 8, the coin, as heretofore described, being securely held between the two members of the carrier. To one end 18 of the member 8 is pivotally secured the relatively long linkbar 19, the latter being in turn pivotally connected at 20 to an arm 21, which is rigidly secured at its hub 22 to the operating-shaft 23 of the device. The shaft is designed to be actuated through the medium of the segmental member or arm 24, having a crankhandle 25 extending through a segmental slot 26 in the front of the casing. As will be clearly seen by referring to Figs. 1 and 3, a portion of the periphery of the segmental arm is provided with a number of serrations or teeth 27, extending from approximately the center of the segment along the periphery to one of the ends thereof, said end being cut away at an angle, as shown at 28. Now as movement is imparted through the crankhandle to the segmental arm and the operating-shaft for the purpose of imparting a forward thrust to the coin-carrier through its connecting parts the rack portion of the arm formed by the teeth or serrations hereinbefore described is designed to bear against and pass the projection 29 of the double pawl 30, which is pivotally secured through the medium of the pin 31 to the inner face of the casing, a stop, as at 32, hearing against the angular head 33 of the spring 34, also secured to the casing, and prevents such pawl from turning out of the position shown in Fig. 1 just as long as the downward thrust of the handle and forward travel of the carrier continues; but should an attempt be made to reverse the path of travel of the segmental arm for the purpose of bringing the carrier back to its normal position before such carrier has completed its forward path of travel the angular head of the pawl 29 will engage with the teeth of the rack and instead of sliding idly over the same will hold or retain the segmental arm so that further backward movement will be impossible and it will be necessary to continue the forward movement of the carrier before it can be retracted. After the carrier and the segmental arm with the crank-handle has reached the limit of its forward operative movement the rigid lug36, formed on the face of the segmental arm, will contact with the projecting dog 37 of the double pawl and will force the same downward into contact with a second segmental rack 38, formed on the interior face of the arm and below the rack 27 This movement will also throw the projecting pawl 29 upward out of contact with its rack 27, and the stop 32, being moved into contact with another side of the angular head of the spring 34, will be held against movement, thereby causing the arm and various parts of the devices to be returned to their normal positions.

In order to operate the carrier and parts just described, a coin is inserted .through the slot 40, formed in the face of the casing, and, traveling down the curved conducting-chute 41, is designed to drop. into the slot 10, which lies directly beneath the mouth of the chute, the latter being secured, as at 43, to the top face of the platform, the mouth of the chute extending over the longitudinal slide of the platform. After the coin has been inserted in the carrier the movement of the handle is commenced, and after the member 8 has moved forward a suflicient distance so that the bar 15 abuts against the head 17 of the block 9 and the coin is grasped between the enlarged portion 11 and the abutment 12 of the carrier the latter is moved forward and conveys the coin to a point above the slot 43, which lies directly over a suitable receptacle. (Not shown.) When the carrier has reached the forward limit of its movement, the two members of the coin-carrier will be separated suificiently to permit the coin to be released and dropped through the slot 43, a spring, as at 44, secured to the under side of the portion 15 of the block 9, assisting in the performance ofthis function.

Should a washer or the like be inserted in the coin-chute and drop into the carrier, it will be grasped on the forward movement of the latter by the pivoted dog 45, having its point 46 normally lying in the slot 47 formed in the side of the member 8, a tension-spring, as at 48, pressing the dog firmly against the side of the carrier, and it will be evident that the tooth or point of the dog passing through the aperture 49 in the opposite side of the member will secure the carrier against further movement. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 5.

In order to prevent a coin smaller or larger sized than that intended to be used in the operation of the machine being employed to actuate the device, 1 have provided the following means: Extending upward from the platform are two supporting-lugs 50 and 51, carrying a pivot 52, on which is mounted the movable arm 53. vided with a downward and lateral extending angular projection 55, substantially in the form of an L, while the opposite end of such arm carries ascrew, as at 56. The block mem- One end of said arm, as at 54, is proher 9 of the carrier is also provided with an upwanllv-extending Lshaped projection 57, having the head 58 thereof turned in the opposite direction from the head of the arm 53. Now should a coin of ordinary size be inserted in the carrier upon the forward movement of the latter such coin would strike against the stem of the screw 56 and tilting the opposite end of the arm 5% downward will permit the head of the projection 57 to pass above the similarly laterally projecting portion of the angular head thereby permitting the carrier to continue its movement unchecked; but should a coin of smaller size be inserted upon the forward movement of the carrier the head 5s will come into contact with the part 55 and further movement of the carrier will be prohibited, while if the coin is of larger size it will strike against the stem of screw 56. so that further movement of the carrier will be impossible, and a spurious coin whether large or small will be released from the carrier and dropped through the slot59 to a receptacle provided for their reception.

\Vhen the carrier has reached the limit of its forward movement, it is assisted in its retractive travel by the relatively large tensionspring 60. one end of which is secured to a pin 61, carried by the hub 22, while the opposite end is fastened, as at 63, to the all of the casing. In the present machine the lever 64;, which is secured to the shaft 23 and is designed to move upward in an are when the carrier is thrust forward, is adapted to contact with and impart movement to the goodsdeliveringreceptacle of the machine. (Not shown.)

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of my improved mechanism will be readily apparent Upon a coin being inserted through the slot of the coin-chute it passes downward and drops into the slot 10 of the coin-carrier, where itis held between the two members of the carrier, as hereinbefore described in detail. The crankhaudle, which projects through the face of the casing, is then operated by pulling it downward, and this movement, actuating as it does the segmental arm, operates the link connection between the hub 22 and the carrier and causes the latter to slide laterally forward. This movement also causes the arm 6% to move upward and operate the coin-delivering receptacle, while the coin, being released by the carrier, drops through the carrier-slot 43. The carrier is then retracted to its normal condition. as heretofore described, and the machine is ready for a second operation.

It will be observed that 1 have provided an exceedingtv simple operating meanswhich especially adapted for use in connection with vending-machines of various types of eonstruction such as those employed for peanuts, candy, gum, and the like--and in some instances may be employed with other mechanisms, such as prepaid gas-meters or similar devices.

\Vhile I have shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, it will of course be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein shown, as there may be modification and variation in certain respects without departing from the essential features of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

What I claim isl. The combination with a platform, of a carrier slidable thereon, a member pivotally supported above said platform, and a projection carried by the coin-carrier and adapted when the latter is moved to cooperate with the pivoted member to prevent the operation of the device by fraudulent coin or the like.

2. A coin-carrier comprising a slotted member, a second member slidably connected to the slotted member, said members being movable relative to each other to releasably engage a coin, means for moving the carrier bodily, and a spring-tensioned pawl adapted to pass through a slot in the slotted member to lock the carrier against movement.

3. A coin-actuated mechanism comprising a sliding coin-carrier, an actuating shaft. an operating connection between the shaft and the carrier, a segment connected to the actuating-shaft, a plurality of toothed racks for said segment, and a double pawl, pivoted adjacent to the segment, and adapted to engage with the racks at relatively different times to prevent the movement of the segment.

a. In a coin-actuated mechanism, the combination of a movable coin-carrier and means for preventing the operation of the mechanism by fraudulent coins .or the like, said means comprising a projection formed on the carrier, and a pivoted arm mounted adjacent to the carrier, said arm being adapted to cooperate with the projection of the carrier.

5. A coin-actuated mechanism comprising acoin-carrier, an actuating-shaft, a connection between the shaft, an operating-handle for said arm whereby movement may be imparted to the shaft, a plurality of teeth formed in the periphery of the segmental arm, a second segmental rack formed on the side of the segmental arm, a double pawl pivoted adjacent to the racks adapted to engage with said racks at relatively different times to hold the arm and this connection against movement, and a lug formed on the segmental arm and adapted to contact with the pawl to disengage the same from certain of the racks.

6. The combination of a coin-carrier comprising two members slidably connected, and adapted to receive a coin, a coin-chute arranged above said carrier, means for moving said carrier bodily, said means including a segmental operating-arm, and means for hold- IIO ing said arm against movement, such means comprising a plurality of segmental racks carried by said arm, and a double pawl designed to engage with one or the other of said racks at specified times.

7; The combination of a grooved or slotted platform, a coin-carrier comprising two members movable relative to each other and sliding in the groove of the platform, one of said members having a vertically-disposed slot formed therein, a coin-chute designed to conduct a coin to the vertically-slotted portion of the carrier, means for sliding the carrier bodily in the groove of the platform, such means including an actuating-shaft, an operating-arm connected to said shaft, a hub on said shaft, and a toggle connection between the hub and the carrier.

8. The combination of a coin-carrier comprising two members movable relative to each other for releasably holding a coin, one of said members having a horizontal slot therein and means for engaging and holding the carrier against movement when a washer or the like is inserted in the carrier, such means including a dog or pawl pivoted adjacent to the carrier and adapted to enter the horizontal slot.

9. The combination of a platform, a coincarrier slidable thereon, and designed to receive a coin of predetermined size, and means for preventing the operation of the machine by spurious coins or the like, such means including an angular arm pivoted above the platform, and an angular projection on the carrier adapted to cooperate With the pivoted arm.

10. The combination of a sliding coin-carrier comprising a plurality of connected members designed to receive a coin of predetermined size, and means for preventing the operation of the machine by spurious coin and such means comprising an arm pivoted above the sliding carrier, having an angular head at one end thereof, an angular head of the arm, and a pin or the like extending through the opposite end of the pivoted arm from that carrying the head.

11. The combination of a platform, having a plurality of openings in the bottom thereof, a coin-carrier sliding on said platform, a rotatable shaft, connected to said shaft, goods-receptacle-operating means, a connection between the shaft and the carrier, means for rotating said shaft to impart a sliding movement to the carrier, means for locking the shaft against movement at predetermined times to prevent the operation of the carrier, a coinchute for directing the coin to the carrier and means for detecting and ejecting spurious coins or the like, Which may be inserted in the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

MARK O. ANTHONY.

\Vitnesses:

R. B. CAVANAGH, R A. MOONEY. 

